Receiving Aid
Terms and Conditions
The initial financial aid offered to undergraduate students is always based on the cost of full-time enrollment of at least 12 units per term. Aid for graduate students is packaged according to the full-or-part time status that they indicate on their applications for aid.
If you plan to change your course load from the full, three-quarter, or half-time attendance shown in the “Messages” section of your Financial Aid Notification, your offer may need revision. You should use the Course Load Change Form to notify the Towson University Financial Aid Office of the change.
The total number of units you take for a term will affect your aid in two ways:
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If you attend less than full time your cost of attendance will change. For example, the cost of attendance for half-time enrollment is less than the cost for full-time enrollment.
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Various types of aid require minimum enrollment for participation in the programs. Refer to the following table for information on enrollment status.
Undergraduate Students
Status |
Term Course Load* |
Less than half-time |
<6 units |
Half-time |
6 to 8 units |
Three-quarter time |
9 to 11 units |
Full-time |
12 or more units |
Graduate Students
Status |
Term Course Load* |
Less than half-time |
<6 graduate level units |
Half-time |
6 to 8 graduate level units |
Full-time |
9 or more graduate units |
*Not including audited classes.
The following table shows the required minimum enrollment levels for major financial aid programs.
Program* |
Minimum Enrollment |
Federal Direct Loan Program |
Half-time |
Maryland State Educational Assistance Grants |
Full-time |
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins Loan & Federal Work-Study |
Less than half-time permitted |
Federal Pell Grant |
Less than half-time permitted (for EFC’s of 3900 or less) |
*Recipients of Maryland State Scholarships and Grants not listed can check enrollment requirements at http://www.mhec.state.md.us. Other scholarships may have enrollment requirements established by the donor or the scholarship coordinator.
Although some programs will permit less than half-time enrollment (as shown in the table above), the cost of attendance for less than half-time enrollment is limited to tuition, fees, books, and an allowance for transportation. Should you enroll as a less than half-time student, you may have a drastically reduced or no calculated need. In addition, educational loans enter repayment after a six-month (Federal Direct Loan) or nine-month (Federal Perkins Loan) grace period that begins when you drop below half-time enrollment.
Financial Aid Office
Enrollment Services, Room 339
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Reception Desk)
Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Financial Aid Call Center)
1-888-4TOWSON (toll free)
Phone: 410-704-4236
Fax: 410-704-2584
E-mail: finaid@towson.edu
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